Healthwatch Tameside - Annual Report 2025-26

Healthwatch Tameside publishes Annual Report 2025/26 highlighting a year of impact, resilience and community voice.

Healthwatch Tameside has published its Annual Report 2025/26, showcasing a year of significant impact in championing the voices of local people and driving improvements across health and social care services.

The report highlights how, despite a challenging and uncertain national landscape, the organisation has continued to strengthen its role as the independent health and social care champion for Tameside, ensuring residents’ experiences are heard and acted upon.

Throughout the year, Healthwatch Tameside engaged with thousands of people across the borough, reaching a diverse range of communities and amplifying the voices of those who are often seldom heard

Key highlights from the report include:

• Supporting over 4,519 people to share their experiences or access information and advice about their care.

• Publishing three major research reports, including work on Pharmacy First, GP access and accessible communication.

• Delivering six Enter & View visits to care homes, helping improve quality, safety and resident experience.

• Engaging directly with communities through 57 events and outreach activities, alongside dedicated hospital engagement sessions.

• Supporting over 3,116 people through our advice and information service, a 13% increase on the previous year.

The report also demonstrates how local insight has led to tangible improvements in care. This includes influencing changes in hospital practice, shaping service delivery such as Pharmacy First, and working collaboratively with GP practices to improve accessibility for people with communication needs

Alex Leach, Lead Officer for Healthwatch Tameside, said: "This year has demonstrated both the resilience of our service and the strength of community voice across Tameside. The scale of our engagement and the growing demand for our support reflect both the trust placed in us by local people and the real impact of our work in helping individuals navigate care, share their experiences and influence change. We remain committed to ensuring that those voices are not only heard, but that they play a meaningful role in shaping the future of health and social care services.

Looking ahead, the role of Healthwatch Tameside as an independent voice for patients has never been more important. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners to ensure that a strong, independent service remains in Tameside, representing all residents, particularly those whose voices are too often unheard, and driving the improvements our communities need”.

Looking ahead, Healthwatch Tameside will continue to prioritise engagement with underserved communities, expand its Enter & View programme, and follow up on recommendations to ensure improvements are delivered and sustained. The report also recognises the vital contribution of volunteers, who gave over 300 hours of their time supporting engagement, governance and service improvement activity throughout the year.

The full report will be published on their website here: https://www.healthwatchtameside.co.uk/report/2026-06-18/healthwatch-tameside annual-report-2025-2026